China Tourism Promotion in Cape Town

On the evening of June 12, local time, the “China – Beyond Your Imagination” tourism promotion campaign arrived at Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, the last leg of its tour on the African continent. Zhang Xilong, deputy head of the CNTA Department of Tourism Promotion and International Liaison, Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, the Democratic Alliance’s Shadow Tourism Minister James Vos and Chinese Consul-General in Cape Town Kang Yong were invited to address the audience of more than 200, including local tourism professionals, representatives of airline companies and journalists.

Zhang said, “The Chinese government has attached great importance to tourism development in recent years and made remarkable progress in this regard thanks to a number of favorable policies. China and Africa enjoy long-standing friendship and South Africa is a key source of tourists for China and an important destination for Chinese people, so is China to South Africa and her people. We both boast abundant tourism resources and sound tourism facilities and highly complement to each other thanks to great differences in our culture and landscape, promising tremendous cooperation potentials. I look forward to deepening our tourism cooperation from now on.”

Kang Yong spoke highly of the unique role of tourism in promoting personnel exchange and enhancing mutual understanding between different countries. “People-to-people bond is of vital importance for the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. This visit of the Chinese delegation will surely propel Sino-South African relations.”

Helen Zille shared her pleasant trip to Shanghai not long ago and expressed admiration for Chinese people’s diligence and commitment to work. “We South African people are capable of turning challenges into opportunities, and proud of the diversity of our tourism resources and culture. Tourism will create jobs and wealth for us and I look forward to more extensive, deeper tourism cooperation and exchange with China.”

In his remarks, Mr. Vos recognized tourism’s enormous role in the national economy. “China is one of the fastest-growing countries in the world and a major source of tourists for us. We are working to improve the travel experience of Chinese tourists. We would like to learn from the Chinese tourism industry and contribute to our bilateral personnel exchange.”

Following the addresses, a video on tourism resources along the Silk Road was screened, diverse tourism resources and products showcased and promoted, and Chinese folk performances such as the dragon dance, diabolo playing and ethnic minority dances staged. The lucky draw pushed the night to its climax.

Before the event, the Chinese delegation held business talks with local tourism professionals, paving the way for future cooperation.

During their stay in South Africa, some Chinese delegates were invited to a work meeting with Mr. Vos and Dr. Ivan Meyer, Western Cape’s Minister for Finance and head of international relations. Both sides shared information about the latest tourism development, discussed possibilities of future cooperation and exchanged ideas on topics of common interest such as how to foster the tourism culture, build the home port for cruises, train tourism specialists and develop convention & exhibition tours.

This event wrapped up China’s tourism promotion in Africa, but the effect is still lingering, arousing more and more African tourists’ interest in China. Business insiders from both China and South Africa are confident in future tourism cooperation.